Our projects are selected according to their conservation priority, potential for community-based action and lack of charisma. There are no pandas or elephants here! We concentrate on unpopular creatures living in places where life is difficult for everyone and conservation can never become an issue until peoples' basic rights and requirements are fulfilled. Winning many prestigious conservation awards and gaining a reputation for dedication, perseverance and a dogged determination to speak the truth, Mampam Conservation philosophy can be summarized simply: "If we don't do it, nobody else will!"

Since 1990 Mampam Conservation has carried out projects in collaboration with thousands of people worldwide. We have worked with some of the most impoverished farmers and hunters as well as the most talented and dedicated young scientists in Asia, Africa and Europe to produce solutions to critical but neglected problems in wildlife conservation. Our aim is to develop self sustaining networks of local experts able to work in areas acknowledged to be of critical importance but ignored because of lack of resources and fundamental logistical, methodological and taxonomic problems.

Innovative approaches have been the hallmark of our research; Using paint to count the last hippopotamus population in Ghana; Creating audio guides to endangered frog populations in India; Using ultrasonic detectors to survey extremely rare bats in Madagascar; Developing ways to study huge forest lizards in the Philippines without risk to them or their fragile habitat. Mampam Conservation projects are renown for developing groundbreaking methodologies that are inexpensive but extremely effective.

Through its publishing arm, Viper Press, Mampam Conservation produces books and multimedia guides for free distribution in target countries, specializing in works enabling the easy identification of poorly known species in complex communities and practical ways to survey rare or endangered species accurately under difficult conditions. Many of these publications are considered the authoritative work on the subject.

Some of the species we work with are among the most economically important wild vertebrates in the poorest countries of the world. Most have no economic value whatsoever and a few can only be considered a hindrance to the people who are forced to live alongside them. In all cases our independence and commitment to the truth enables us to speak freely. This does not always gain us universal popularity! In 2001 Mampam Conservation was banned from conducting research in Ghana, after unilaterally speaking out against the government's plan to move the only viable hippopotamus population in the country from its present home, uninhabited by people, to a new site in a densely populated and extensively farmed part of the country where tragic clashes between the huge herbivores and people were inevitable. No other scientists or conservation bodies were prepared to voice their concerns, but we were obliged to do so. Despite the government's anger, the team remain firm friends with local villages, who have collaborated with us since 1994 and are petitioning the government to allow us to resume our research in the area.

Nobody involved with Mampam Conservation projects gets paid unless they normally live in the study area. Local students receive a modest allowance to enable them to spend time with us, and local people receive a fair wage for working with the team. Everybody is guaranteed access to insurance and the best medical care available. We aim to spend 60% of total project budget within the study area, bringing only essential equipment and medical kits from outside. As a result Mampam Conservation projects are both extremely cost effective and universally welcomed.

Please help support Mampam Conservation by purchasing products from Viper Press or by making a donation. 100% of funds received are spent directly on projects.

Butaan start to visit fruiting trees before they are large enough to
swallow the fruits. They make repeat journeys to trees, perhaps to
reinforce memory of the position of the tree. If the youngster survives
it may continue to use this tree for many decades. Fruiting trees like
this are a vital resource for entire populations of butaan. Learn more >